I want to take a moment to talk about Atlas Shrugged, a book that I am GREATLY enjoying! Because I don't feel like writing an in-depth synopsis, I will assume readers of this post have read it. However, I'll try to leave hints where I can.
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So this book has me feeling stuck in a contradiction. I want the main characters, namely Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden, to win because they are such hard-working, intelligent people with such strong convictions! They put their all into their work, and I respect the hell out of that!
But at the same time, such ideas as the "Equalization of Opportunity" appeal to my humanitarian side, perhaps because of my own lack of success. Face it. I not only suffer from Asperger's and Social Anxiety, but I also possess a very limited skillset, i.e., I verily suck at my job and my websites suck, period.
That said, Ayn Rand takes this notion of equality and radicalizes it so as to make a point. For instance, some Professor McDoughy suggests that book sales should be limited to 10,000. Admittedly, the notion sent me sprawling to the ground in laughter, as I would love for that stipulation to have been applied to Snooki's piece-of-crap book.
However, limiting book sales is INSANE! You can't do that! You can't undercut one business so as to level out the field like the struggling Taggart Transcontinental did to the booming Phoenix-Durango via the National Railroad Alliance's Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Rule. That goes against the very notion of free market capitalism.
You can't take down Booming Business A just to even things out for Suckass Business B. But damn... could we not let Business A thrive while at the same time doing something -- anything -- to improve the chances of Business B, C, D and so-on succeeding? Couldn't we just give them a boost of some type?
I guess this book is inspiring deep introspection. I expect to die in the same position I am now -- stuck and moving neither forward nor backwards. Merely stationary in place. Limited funds. No woman. A simple existence making ends meet. I guess my question is this:
Does my desire to be afforded an opportunity to live a much better, more fruitful live fit with the doctrines of free market capitalism, or would such a chance only be provided under the wings of a Socialistic society that promotes the "Equalization of Opportunity"?
#Shrugs
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So this book has me feeling stuck in a contradiction. I want the main characters, namely Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden, to win because they are such hard-working, intelligent people with such strong convictions! They put their all into their work, and I respect the hell out of that!
But at the same time, such ideas as the "Equalization of Opportunity" appeal to my humanitarian side, perhaps because of my own lack of success. Face it. I not only suffer from Asperger's and Social Anxiety, but I also possess a very limited skillset, i.e., I verily suck at my job and my websites suck, period.
That said, Ayn Rand takes this notion of equality and radicalizes it so as to make a point. For instance, some Professor McDoughy suggests that book sales should be limited to 10,000. Admittedly, the notion sent me sprawling to the ground in laughter, as I would love for that stipulation to have been applied to Snooki's piece-of-crap book.
However, limiting book sales is INSANE! You can't do that! You can't undercut one business so as to level out the field like the struggling Taggart Transcontinental did to the booming Phoenix-Durango via the National Railroad Alliance's Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Rule. That goes against the very notion of free market capitalism.
You can't take down Booming Business A just to even things out for Suckass Business B. But damn... could we not let Business A thrive while at the same time doing something -- anything -- to improve the chances of Business B, C, D and so-on succeeding? Couldn't we just give them a boost of some type?
I guess this book is inspiring deep introspection. I expect to die in the same position I am now -- stuck and moving neither forward nor backwards. Merely stationary in place. Limited funds. No woman. A simple existence making ends meet. I guess my question is this:
Does my desire to be afforded an opportunity to live a much better, more fruitful live fit with the doctrines of free market capitalism, or would such a chance only be provided under the wings of a Socialistic society that promotes the "Equalization of Opportunity"?
#Shrugs
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